The Argosy, Vol. 48

The Village Blacksmith by Darley Dale, Chapter XXII, serialized in August 1889. Vera, the Rector's daughter, is accosted by a tramp while riding; her mastiff Lion forces the attacker to flee, recovering her watch and whip. Returning home, Vera faces confrontation from her stepmother Mrs. Ryot-Tempest, who demands she marry the devoted curate Mr. Hastings, claiming Vera's riding with him has compromised her reputation. Vera refuses, insisting she is engaged to Captain Raleigh. Her father, the newly appointed Archdeacon, eventually supports her against his wife's schemes. Days later, Vera visits the blacksmith Reuben at his forge, recounting her adventure. Reuben mentions seeing the tramp with a suspicious local man named Mark Brown, warning of potential trouble. The chapter concludes with philosophical reflection on life's unexpected trials and the unknowable future.